We play better football than the Invincibles & Time to 'Man Up' says Wenger……

Morning all,

Chelsea up today then and it’s a good time to face them isn’t it?

They sit third as we go into today’s clash but their record at Stamford Bridge is not so good this season. They have played seven, won two, drawn three and lost two!

Wenger believes that to win more fixtures and become more successful, we need to look back at we used to play when we fielded the likes of Vieira and bring that into today’s game. In other words, toughen up and get stuck in a lot more.

Maybe we have to go back a little bit, not less technical but a bit more physical and aggressive.

I think that when [referees] see Arsenal on the sheet, they say “oh fantastic” [to referee them].

This side are physical players, but we have to restructure the balance of the team a little bit.

The players have the character to do it. The [likes of] [Jack] Wilshere are technical players, but they are also physical players.’

Signing a central midfield beast would help wouldn’t it?
Maybe one who had the leadership and battling qualities similar to our old boy, Patrick Vieira:

I believe Arsenal, on a good day when they have all their players fit and in form, can beat anyone, even the very best teams in the world. OK, right now they lack the consistency to win the Premier League title. But they have good players, very good players.

And if you look at Arsenal in the last few years then I think they have played even better football than we did in 2003-04. For me they are definitely better to watch as a team but we were stronger, had physical presence and more experience.

I spent nine years with Arsene and I really enjoyed my time at Arsenal. What I loved about him was that he made me understand the mistakes I made. He made me grow up, as a player and person. So Arsenal is where I changed from a boy into a man.

Many of us believe that Arsene Wenger has seen his best day’s in football management, certainly when it comes to OUR club but Vieira is having none of it.

For me he was the best manager of all. It’s true that from the age of 20 to 29 I played my best football. The unique situation with Arsenal is that you have to judge what Arsene has done for them in the last 17 years.

It is amazing. He has totally transformed the club over the last 17 years but the only way to keep the fans happy is to win silverware. Arsene will deal with that, though. I’m very confident of that.

It’s been a long seven years for us fans, but Vieira  truly believes we won’t have to wait too much longer.

Back to today. This weekend each year has often been kind to us. In fact prior to last season, we have to go back to the 2005/06 season to find a league defeat and that was against Everton.

Come on boys, let’s make that Chelsea run ‘played eight and lost three’,  let’s go and batter the luckiest ever Champions of Europe….

Have a good day all….

0 thoughts on “We play better football than the Invincibles & Time to 'Man Up' says Wenger……

  1. potter says:

    Football is a simple game , there’s going forward and going back. Certainly going forward with the ball we have played nice attractive penetrating stuff. Going back without the ball however is a different story.

  2. Scott from Oz says:

    Another example of an ex player talking up Wenger, yet plenty presume to know better.
    Who would know best?
    Lets go after Chelski…attack the bastards.
    Morning all.

  3. Christy says:

    well as an arsenalsupporter i wld wnt us beat chelsea but this wld make wenger 2 be deluded the more cz he wld believe we’ve arrived so if chelsea can beat arsenal so dt we wn’t qualify 4 CL i wld be very happy

  4. rico says:

    Morning all…

    Easy for Patrick to make such comments, he won trophies under him, funny how he wanted to jump ship though as soon as Real Madrid came calling…..

    He didn’t want to come back and work the man who made his career.

    Mme…

    I agree with Wenger though, let’s toughen up a bit and I don’t mean rugby tackling like Kos prefers…..

  5. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico, you can not question his motives on making these comments, surely!
    Why would he lie?
    Cynical at best.

  6. rico says:

    We do make it difficult for ourselves at times Potter..

    Chelsea seem to be more nervous than we are at home Scott, the fans want Rafa out. Nice early goal would get the home fans ‘excited’.

  7. rico says:

    Of course I can question his motives Scott, I also wonder when those comments were made and strange coming from the same man who has recently spoken out about bad Wenger runs the club…

    I am sure I read something of that nature last season….

  8. Scott from Oz says:

    Lets get at ’em.
    Put one last them early and they will crumble.
    Who is next in line to manage Chelski?
    PSG are lining up an ofder of 30 million for Wenger, apparently.

  9. Adam says:

    Good morning Rico. We have a blizzard here at the moment so tucked up in bed with a cuppa seems like a nice place to be.
    Vieira did leave under a bit of a cloud didn’t he? I imagine he has always had the hump with Arsenal. He’s just another bloke who loves a £ note for me. Ignore him.

  10. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico, his comments earlier touched on the selling of players, and we all know that policy sucks, but also it comes from higher up the foodchain.
    These comments are aimed squarely at Wenger though.
    The media want us all to know what every football personality thinks of the man.
    Why is that?

  11. rico says:

    Wenger doesn’t breach his contracts, PSG have no chance….

    Morning Adam. We have a little bit of snow too, but not a blizzard. Is it enough to put the game in doubt?

    Paddy did leave rather rapid in the end and funny enough, not to Real. I once heard he failed a medical in Spain hence his sudden change in decision to stay….

  12. Scott from Oz says:

    But he is motivated by 7 million a year according to most.
    Surely 10 million a year would have him on the move 🙂

  13. Adam says:

    Rico. It will be the state of the roads around Stamford Bridge that decides that. I imagine that it will go ahead as it’s situated on main roads.

  14. rico says:

    Not sure I would use the words ‘he is motivated’ by £7 million a year 🙂

    Adam – shame, I think I will miss most of it 🙁

  15. JW says:

    Good morning all,

    I’m not sure that there is any such thing as “a good time” to play the European champions, but the fixture list dictates that we play them today so the team need to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in from the first whistle to the last.

    I can just about cope with losing so long as we have gone down fighting, what I can’t stomach is when we roll over with a whimper and a shrug.

    Let’s see an Arsenal side with some desire, some aggression, some players with a bit of fire in their bellies and not just from a dodgy ruby!

  16. rico says:

    😆 Adam, off out for tea and stickies more like…

    JW – I’d rather we play them when they have their own ‘issues’ and not doing well at SB than if things were all fab and they were battering sides…

    That makes a good time to play them in my book 😉

  17. finestcuts says:

    It’s startling that Wenger has only just acknowledged what people have been saying for many years as a truism. I’ve personally had enough of Wenger ignoring the obvious. I hope he accepts PSG’s reported offer.

  18. rico says:

    I did see snippets JW..

    😆 Adam…

    Hi finest, how’s things?

    I don’t think you are alone with that view any more….

  19. finestcuts says:

    Hey Rico, hoping Walcott will celebrate his new contract by scoring the winner today, hpw about you? Adam, Wenger has acknowledged that we need to ne more physical, that we lack physical presence. Lots of us have been saying this for years.

  20. Scott from Oz says:

    Don’t know about that Rico….plenty here use the 7 million frequently when describing his motivation.

  21. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning all,
    Snowing quite strongly here 12 miles from the centre of London, wonder whether the game will start.
    PV got a lot to say for himself all of a sudden, probably feels Chelski can still be a threat so must believe were out of it, Silly boy. Wenger finally comes out with what we have been saying for the last few years, Arsenal players have been nancy boys no doubt about that. And yes they do have to toughen up, our latest signing Theo Walcott will come up against a fit John Terry today Theo will knock him all over the place, Yeh i know. Gioroud on the other hand will let Terry know he’s there in the first head to head. Podolski can also rough it up but Theo !!!!!!

  22. JW says:

    Finestcuts,

    Koscielny tried a bit of “physical presence” last week, look where that got him!

    Referees wont stand for it anymore, football is becoming a non-contact game, although I’m not sure Jack Wilshire would agree after the battering he got from City.

  23. rico says:

    Maybe motivation to go to work each day 😉

    Sp, I can’t believe you don’t think TW is ready to get stuck into Chelsea 😉

    Mind you, Henry seldom ‘turned up’ for the big games either….

  24. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico, you know my question mark on Theo.
    I would love him to shove that opinion down my throat, believe me.

  25. finestcuts says:

    JW, I’m not advocating foul play. I mean players who can go for 50/50s, who opponents can’t easily knock about like they’ve frequently done to us, Wilshere getting roughed up is a very good example. Would it have happened if he was a tall tough guy? I’d say it’s less likely.

  26. rico says:

    That wasn’t physical presence JW, that was out and out stupidity.

    We do need to get more physical imho, but of course, remain fair. Most other sides do that to us each week, we need to follow suit.

    Get stuck in, close the opposition down and start challenging for the 50/50 balls in the air…

  27. JW says:

    Scott,

    There are more than two sets of rules.

    The ref sent Kompany off for the tackle on Wilshire and the FA kicked the ref in the teeth by rescinding the red card. I guess we will just have to see how soon somebody suffers a broken leg before the “blazers” who run the FA wake up.

  28. Adam says:

    Finest. Yes, I agree. But I wouldn’t take too much notice of what he says. The reporting of it is always spun to support an agenda.

  29. Scott from Oz says:

    JW, there have been enough broken legs already, and a few at our club.
    Does the penalty fit the crime..no way.
    The innocent party can be out for a full season, then the hacker cops a few weeks.
    It has always annoyed me.

  30. JW says:

    When Shawcross broke Ramsey’s leg did he even get booked? I seem to remember he got away scot free, no offence intended Scott. 😀

  31. stevepalmer1 says:

    Don’t get me wrong, Theo Walcott can hurt Chelski no doubt about that, but he needs to be on the last man, and time he’s runs. Theo has surprised me i must admit just recently he has started to challenge so far he appears to be like a gnat on the windshield but at least he is trying. The missed header that happened the other night has got to be more convincing if he wants to keep Wengers belief in him. I have my doubts about Walcott but he does turn it on at times and its pretty to see but he definitly has to put himself about even if he comes off worse Suarez gets stuck in maybe not a monster but Theo can dive just the same as suarez but he doesn’t want to own up to it just use his head defenders will be more scared of that than being muscled off the ball

  32. Lewis says:

    What team is going to turn up today then? Should we expect the same lineup as Swansea? We did have more balance.

  33. agirlagunner says:

    Hi, Adam, JW, SSP. 🙂 Adam, you’d best stay indoors!

    Theo will score, rico. I have a good feeling. 🙂

  34. Scott from Oz says:

    Absolutely Steve.
    We can roll them, i am confident of that.
    Then again, i am always confident lol.
    Agag…bee a while.
    How are you?

  35. stevepalmer1 says:

    Hi Agag missed you yesterday, i hear your wardrobe is full of shoes, can you pick a nice pair out for Theo today 🙂

  36. agirlagunner says:

    Hiya, Scott. Howdy? SSP, fab shoes and crappy clothes. 😀 😀 How are you, sir??

    I trust that our boys are up for it. They can’t NOT show up for a game as high profile as this. The fans will be up in arms.

  37. stevepalmer1 says:

    Were on a roll Agag, Wengers got the boys fired up and the fans are exstatic that we have finally signed someone i can only see one outcome.

  38. Scott from Oz says:

    Steve, you are one the money there.
    We do tend to have runs of good and bad form.
    Eliminate the bad runs, and we win the league.
    Things are simple when you have a plan….

  39. agirlagunner says:

    The signing of the season, SSP 😆 Everyone’s buzzing!! 😉

    We are linked to everyone, I have a hunch we’ll get Cristiano Ronaldo. 🙂 😀

  40. gunnerdna says:

    Chelsea Team
    Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Torres

    Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry, Bertrand, Ake, Marin, Ba.

    Arsenal Team
    Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Coquelin, Wilshere, Diaby, Cazorla, Walcott, Giroud

    Subs: Mannone, Koscielny, Jenkinson, Santos, Frimpong, Ramsey, Arshavin

  41. gunnernet says:

    Hallo gunners.. Having seen our eleven 2 players will define the game today: 1) Diaby: Clearly he must deliver composedness, control and balance our team against Mata, Oscar and Hazard –> huge task and 2) Gibbs: Making mistakes would be dentrimental against such storming side so i hope he remains concentrated and calm.. COYGs!!!

  42. DutchGooner10 says:

    Afternoon Gooner Familia,

    Fergie sniffs around Zaha like a white shark smells a drop of blood in the water. Red Nose offers Crystal Palace a maximum of 7mln with 1mln sliced from the fee, to loan him back till the end of the season.

    Crystal Palace rather value him as a 12mln package over several years, with a wish to keep him till the end of this season.

  43. Scott from Oz says:

    Wtf was Sagna doing??
    Ramires should have been give a yellow and free kick to us back up the field but Sagna nowhere to be seen.
    Giroud should have nailed his bloody shot!

  44. Lewis says:

    Fuckin diving prick. Referee is robbing us. As shit as we are that’s 2 decisions and they have 2 goals. WTF!

  45. gunnernet says:

    abysmal defending again!! We give away the ball much too easily and cheaply. Unlucky? Fucking no!! Just no concentation and class. Another poor game. 🙁 I am done for today..

  46. gunnernet says:

    Lewis

    yes 2 fcking bloody ref desicions but WTF mate?? Have u seen Sagna’s position in the first and Diaby’s laziness in the second? Don’t throw it to the ref. We are abysmal defensively!

  47. gunnerdna says:

    Don’t blame the referee blame the person who fail to address the deficiencies in the team. Our midfield is awful

  48. allezkev says:

    What was it that Wilshere said???

    “Chelsea are scared of Arsenal”…

    Laughable…

    Take your chances and play to the whistle and it would be 0-1 to the Gunners…
    As it is, it’s business as usual…

  49. Tlailaxu says:

    …Exactly lewis…so far we have conceded two goals, both deliberate misjudgement by ref…what a great league, year in year out, so many ridiculous decisions, every single decision in this game so far went chelseas way… well done…

  50. Lewis says:

    Gunnernet, yes we are shite and deserve to be losing but the two goals are both bad refereeing decisions. You can’t deny that. The refereeing in this country is poor at best.

  51. Boomergooner1727 says:

    Same simple mistakes from the defense (and diaby) but that’s no excuse for the officiating, this is a joke. We looked mildly inspired after the penalty but we’ve since gone flat allowing them to run the show. Game has been spoiled it must be said.

  52. gunnernet says:

    Absolutely agree there Lewis. But u can’t blame the ref first fot the 2 goals. In the first an amateur defender wouldn’t have left such a gap and Scezny should have put a hand on the ball at least.. In the second is so typical. Diaby ranted at Sagna for a previous move then he gives the ball away… Really really poor. Not to mention Giroud sitter..

  53. Lewis says:

    Before every game, I get hopes up that they might show up and have a real good go.but they just role over and take it in the cheeks. Where is the passion?

  54. tsGH says:

    I m at the bridge behind Cech and our front 3 are a big disgrace.Theo is leaving Sagna out to dry.SC19 I have said it too many times…

  55. gunnernet says:

    How can u compare Campell and Toure with Vermaelen and Mert? Cole with Gibbs? Not to mention Vieira, Gilberto, Bob and Thierry with Walnutt, Diaby Coq and Giroud. Even Sagna once the best RB in the EPL is nowhere near the level of Lauren back then.. Disgrace..

  56. Tlailaxu says:

    ref is not to blame for the goals conceded, maybe I’ve not expressed myself rightly, what I mean is regardless of teams scores and any other variables ref has made at least three huge mistakes, what does that tell you…
    yes Sagna and diaby are just hopeless today, but sagna was this way for a while now, why is Jenkinson not playing only wenger knows, but there must be a reason behind…

  57. Scott from Oz says:

    Gunnernet, if you get a chance, read the entire passage on Vieira.
    In the right context, his comments make a lot more sense.

  58. stevepalmer1 says:

    All fairness to Sagna, he is not having a good one but the poor sod is on his own up and down the park. Theo stands in an offside position and never looks dire stuff at the moment, Chelsea deserve the first half by a mile, Yes some of the decisions have not been good but our defending is dire. goalkeeping is a problem for us. in fact were coming up second all over the park. Sagna’s to old in the tooth to be up and down all day on his own.

  59. gunnerdna says:

    “Spend as much as you like – it won’t hide the poor coaching.”

    Super comment Steve..AW is out of touch with reality, he is been rewarded for failure..

  60. tsGH says:

    i Ian surprised folks are blaming Diaby…The BFG should never have passed the balk to him in the first place.Sitting 200 yards away I could tell the ball should never have gone to him.
    Again blaming Sagna,Hazard £35m is defending his flank whilst Theo is strolling like he is on a romantic break in Venice.Lets be honest our front 3 have been a joke.no movement apart from OG12

  61. Lewis says:

    If OG12’s early miss tells us anything is that a clinical striker is seriously needed. That goal may have changed the whole first half. Then again judging by our defensive unit it probably wouldn’t have.

  62. emma says:

    Lets forget that the two goals conceded were referee blunders but we were timid. Hoping for a better second half

  63. gunnerdna says:

    tsGH these are the type of players 5-12 mil gives you. Prada and Louis V is more comfortable than nike air…lol

  64. tsGH says:

    totally agree Emma…so Steve Bould can’t ask Theo to help Sagna?Scott,I think our midfield 2 have prevented a bashing.what the chavs are doing is switching flanks because are wingers are pure moles who deserve to be shot…
    When has JW ever had a good game in the first half.he is allowing Ramires to have fun.

  65. Scott from Oz says:

    This is going to take one massive turn around.
    The only thing we have in our favour atm is Chelski get the jitters when in front.
    Still, we need to put some pressure on them to get them a little antsy.
    We have too many players not putting in a shift today.

  66. Scott from Oz says:

    Ginge, they seem to be swamping numbers through the middle at us…i will take your word for it, being at the ground though.

  67. allezkev says:

    If Santi is underperforming what about taking a punt on Arshavin?
    AA is a match-winner if the mood takes him.
    Today could be his day?

  68. Scott from Oz says:

    We were overrun in the first half, but the simple fact remains that a bad decision was the actual difference in the result.
    Apparently Wenger gave them a rocket at half time, but he needs to give the, one before kick off.
    Another crap first half.

  69. ArsenalDK says:

    Mata and Cazorla hugging while I am sitting at home screaming and shouting at the television?? The players dont give a rats ass about winning. They go home and cash their big fat cheque.

  70. Lewis says:

    Must win game and guess what, we lost. Yes we had a go in the second half but the game was lost by a pathetic first half.

    Striker needed, Central defender needed, powerful midfielder needed and coaching on how to defend needed.

  71. Scott from Oz says:

    DK, that happens in every game, from every club so you can not hold that purely against Arsenal.
    It is the world of professional football where money talks.

  72. DutchGooner10 says:

    SOJI SOJI SOJI SOJI SOJI SOJI SOJI SOJI SOJI

    SSFM SSFM SSFM SSFM SSFM SSFM SSFM SSFM = spend some f*cking money

  73. Steve says:

    As expected toothless up front – Giroud wouldn’t get into Arsenal ladies team.

    But at least we got to see all the players we might have bought if we had an ounce of ambitition.

  74. ArsenalDK says:

    Gunnerdna i honestly dont care if they were dating each other, but to hug each other after a game where supporters like my self have their day ruined, they should not do it in public. They should act as frustrated as us!

  75. gunnerdna says:

    DK if u dont realise your days are being ruined for the last seven years make this 1 eight. RVP was sold to man u, soccer has changed.

  76. ArsenalDK says:

    Oz i wasn’t taking a swipe at arsenal only, i am just so angry and sad right now, is it too much to ask for some solidarity from the players? Shouldn’t they act just as sad and angry?

  77. gunnerdna says:

    DK what about AW who waits for diaby to get fit while the team suffers and always playing ramsey when he knows he is shit are they dating?

  78. ArsenalDK says:

    Trust me DNA I am fully aware of the capitalism in soccer but that doesn’t change how I feel about my club.

  79. ozgunner10 says:

    after the one of the most one sided half’s i’ve seen in a while Chelsea almost delivered us another Southampton draw – looked really shaky again as the game went on – agree with Steve when it was there for the taking Arsene brings on the forgotten man hahah

  80. ArsenalDK says:

    DNA there’s no need to be provocating. Wenger has lost it a lot of time ago, thats why he persists with diaby and ramsey.

  81. emma says:

    The greedy dutchman could have scored the first chance that Giroud had. We definitely need a striker and a DM/Box-box. If we had a DM, Ramires wouldn’t have got away with some of those challenges he got away with

  82. Steve says:

    I thought Diaby and Ramsey put in a shift today. The honest truth though, is they are just not good enough against teams like Chelsea etc.

  83. stevepalmer1 says:

    The window is open Arsene, We have lost against Chelsea again you now must realise that the transfer kitty has to be used .Diaby is not the player you think he is we need a new man Giroud has another Missing afternoon we need a striker that knows how to bury any little chance he gets, and after watching Czezesney going for a jog you must realise that he should realy be allowed to jog on. You have the money to spend and the players are out there to make us better. Much better spent the ffffing money.

  84. emma says:

    the greedy badger said it was a great moment to score against arsenal. He is bitting the hand that feed him. No wonder he deactivated his twitter account.

  85. Rick says:

    Robin van toss pot has basically just said that when he first came to arsenal players like bergkamp wowed him and now at arsenal the players are shit
    Now he’s at manure he is being wowed again by the players

    What a cock

  86. ArsenalDK says:

    Ok DNA so what now? Stop supporting the team? I’ll leave that to you. You dont seem to care that much.

  87. emma says:

    RVP just slammed arsenal in his interview. It won’t go down well now. I bet he will be coming to the emirates. Can’t wait for him to pick his long injury layoff

  88. Steve says:

    SP

    Wenger has sat on his cheque book for 3 weeks and 7 dropped points because he thinks he might save a couple of £m at the end of the window. As I commented earlier – no ambitition !

  89. allezkev says:

    Sir Stevo, Wenger has made his one big signing, Walcott.

    Forget anymore big money signings, it ain’t gonna happen.

    Cavani, don’t make me larf.

  90. gunnerdna says:

    DK you are being clumsy tripping over nothing, you need to wake up it 2013…Our season finished before it even started due to footballing reason’s…AFC is not all about winning, tanks for taking intrest in our business PHW..all these comment are the reasons i don’t give a rats ass, pray that spuds don’t win..lol

  91. stevepalmer1 says:

    I agree Steve, I have praised him in the past but in all honesty if he can’t find players who will improve us then his time here is at its end.

    I know supporters cringe at what RVP said but he’s right and you know it.

  92. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Another defeat.
    My point of view (between others):
    a)AA is a player with a completely different spirit of the others. We definetely lost the match when he came in.
    b)Arsenal problem: Arsenal don’t press in the forward and at the midfield. The opoosite plays in his own way.
    c) We had changed the positions on the second half (AW had view something!). Diaby on the fist half gave lot of the space to Chelsea players. Mata-Hazard-Oscar changed the position very quickly but always came inside with the full back; then the full back returns to his postion and chelsea player startes to be in face of the game; at the same moment, the sides were open. Our plaDM (Diaby and coquelin, specially the first, gave much space to the Chelsea player and we never controlled the game.

  93. stevepalmer1 says:

    Watch the Man U game. they have always got options to pass too. Not fantastic players but they work for one another. with a few ref decisions they will always win things.

  94. Bradster says:

    Hi all,
    We play with wingers that both cut inside and make the game narrow. The rely on full backs who’s crossing is poor.

  95. allezkev says:

    Stevo, Arsenal are banking as much as they can to compensate for the abject failure of not making the top four…
    So no more signings of any significance this Window…

  96. Scott from Oz says:

    Those same shit players that were woeful in the first half showed what they can do in the second.
    Gee there are some strange comments on here.
    It is amazing what a little effort can do…..it was sadly lacking in the first 45 minutes, yet we still should have had one or two goals, and Chelski are gifted a penalty.
    No i am not trying to deflect criticism because we were bloody horrible for the first half, but these guys showed they can play in the second.
    Wenger needs to bring in some players who will work through an entire game.

  97. stevepalmer1 says:

    He said that when he first came to Arsenal he looked at the players we had then and it made him feel very good but it has been a long time since he felt that way but his feeling it again now at United or words to that effect

  98. Scott from Oz says:

    SSP…your 4.04 says i all.
    When we have movement off the ball, we play well.
    The opposite applies, as well.
    Simple as that.

  99. Scott from Oz says:

    Sorry, but nothing that prick says will rate with me ever again.
    He never had an issue with the quality of our players or club ambition whilst sitting in the stands injured, so Van Persie can fuck right off!!!

  100. JW says:

    There must be two Diabys, one who is a half decent player and gets a lot of injuries, the other is the gormless prat who turned up today and gets a lot of injuries.

    Walcott shouldn’t be blamed for not tracking back…nobody else was defending in the first half.

  101. Scott from Oz says:

    I never suggested otherwise Steve.
    I just raised the fact that now can players be not good enough to play for Arsenal one minute, then outplay a top 3 side for 45 minutes.
    Wenger needs to work that out, but so do the individuals.
    Our first half performance had nothing to do with player quality, it was a lack of effort, plain and simple.
    Very disappointing.

  102. Scott from Oz says:

    Agree on the Theo comment JW, but it did make Sagna look even worse than he was.
    He looked dreadful.
    Gibbs was very good again.

  103. Bradster says:

    Was it really our performance in the second half or did Chelsea have their usual second half collapse/choke like against other teams?

  104. Scott from Oz says:

    Off for some sleep.
    Catch you all later.
    Arsene, we are in trouble.
    Sign two new guys, and make them top class please.

  105. JW says:

    Scott,

    Frankly I can’t see why Sagna keeps his place, I’m not over enamoured with Jenkinson but he must be better than the woeful Frenchman.

  106. stevepalmer1 says:

    RVP is enjoying his football, you know and i know he should be here but he’s not, the sadening thing is we have not replaced him with the same class of player, don’t get me wrong our players may come good but not in time for us to mount a challenge.

  107. Scott from Oz says:

    Bradster, no doubt they tightened up, but we were ten times better in the second half, i reckon.
    The first half was one of the worst performances i have seen from an Arsenal side.

  108. JW says:

    Steve,

    Much as I hate to say it, but in his present form there aren’t that many players of his class around.

  109. ozgunner10 says:

    Scot – you are pinning your hopes on a second display at Stamford Bridge that was a replica of the Southampton game – look at the table mate – Adams was right, many of us are right – Wenger’s going nowhere

  110. DutchGooner10 says:

    Don’t worry peeps Wenger himself was adamant he knew selling Judas was selling the title. He has a plan I tell you.

  111. JW says:

    Eureka!!!

    I have found it!!!

    Arsene’s cunning plan!!

    He is telling all the players to look lazy, uninterested, poorly trained, lacking in skill, endeavour, spirit.

    That way no other club will want them and Arsenal can then shed the reputation of being a selling club.

  112. Lee says:

    I thought we deserved something from the game.
    If we have players that can only play for 45mins, get shot of them and get some that last 90…..
    Capoue and Cavani please AW.

  113. DutchGooner10 says:

    How rotten will we feel if it becomes known around May that the title brings in another 2mln extra from the Judas sale?

  114. JW says:

    That’s it for me,

    I’m off to watch the Spuds get a spanking, it might cheer me up a bit, although only a nice bottle of Claret will really do the job.

  115. allezkev says:

    Ah Dutch, so Arsene has, a cunning plan….

    Could it be, to sell all our best players, then to join PSG in the summer of 2014???

    Hmm, foolproof… 😉

  116. DutchGooner10 says:

    Kev

    So cunning even quantum computers can’t calculate its risks or shortcomings.

    Frank Rijkaard is available

  117. tsGH says:

    A wasted day imo…

    This players from the most loyal of them to the most foreign of our players have no self believe in their ability at all…

    The start matches like they are playing in a pre-season match. Then again I did not expect us to do well considering it was an early start. Its amazing to sit amongst the away fans and sense the fear and anxiety teams have when we are ‘insync’… unfortunately we only start playing when we go behind.

    Its all in the head of this lot. The longer the non-winning run goes on the more it shall become an obstacle…

  118. Lewis says:

    So Utd bought the title from us for £24million. We Shud have stood firm with RVP and made him honour his contract, it’s going to cost us a lot more than £24m in the long run. Heavy investment needed in the next 10 days, will we get that, probably not.

    Time for change, top to bottom, new ideas needed, both on the field and off. Enough is enough, our annual decline needs to be halted!!

    Very fucked off gooner!!

  119. potter says:

    That’s why we need a bit of new blood to shake things up a bit. It’s gone stale from the board room down.

  120. emma says:

    We have moved from a team that doesn’t turn up for 90mins to a team that turns up only 45mins in the second half. Still have a long way to go. We missed a trick in dembele

  121. potter says:

    ‘could be worse, we could be Liverpool’.

    Or Tottenham. It’s gone full circle from 1961 to 2013, it’s been a long time coming but it was bound to happen.

  122. LJB says:

    Who thinks it was a penalty? G.Neville said it was a dive,and they are going crazy about it on Untold,but on The Press Pass on the radio they all said it was a clear pen and should have been a red card.I’m confused;looked like a dive to me .

  123. Lewis says:

    Emma we missed a trick with half the spurs team, annoying thing is most of them wanted to come to us but we showed no interest so they went to the spuds.

  124. DutchGooner10 says:

    LJB

    How long you’re a Gooner? Untold = Unfortunately. If you seen the game you know 2-0 down at halftime was a kind reflection on our non-existent performance.

    Excuses, excuses, excuses tired of excuses.

  125. Steve says:

    ‘could be worse, we could be Liverpool’

    Apparently even Southampton have greater expectations than us at present.

  126. DutchGooner10 says:

    The team/management make mistakes galore, and some want to crosshair 2 from a referee in 90 minutes. Get real. You attract what you represent.

  127. rico says:

    Hello all…

    I didn’t see the game, only the goals..

    And, only one out of the three should have stood in my opinion.

    However, I take it we were rubbish again??

  128. Lee says:

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he is concerned about the club’s hopes of finishing in the Premier League top four this season after his side went down to a 2-1 defeat away at Chelsea.

    Err, buy some fucking players then you stubborn twat!

    Actually, if the board feel the same way maybe they’ll sanction some fresh blood? Good forbid “they” miss out on the fourth trophy. Fucking joke, isn’t it??

  129. Lee says:

    What really pisses me off, is that all the teams above us aren’t that much better than us. We need some new quality players not the bargain basement shit of late….

  130. rico says:

    Ha ha Gdna, no chance…

    The fact that AW is concerned only about the top four says just about everything.

    Yes, spend some bloody money!!!

  131. rico says:

    Lee – the teams above us are very average, we can’t even match that…..

    I’m not making an excuse but neither of the Chav goals should have been imho….

    Did we play badly??

  132. emma says:

    Dont want to be pessimistic but those lads at 7 sisters have a very good thing. Good enough to finish in the top 4. I doubt if they will have their arry moment again this season.

  133. potter says:

    Is he really concerned about it, maybe there is a clause in his contract that says if we finish out of the top 4 that he has to leave and join PSG.

  134. Lee says:

    First half we were very lethargic and undone by two dubious goals second half we were like a different team….deserved something from the game imho.

  135. emma says:

    rico – chavs 69% possession in the first half says it all. We were not tackling and allow the chavs to freely express themselves. Ramires was doing the dirty job on our players as he had a feel day without a yellow. He even admitted on skysports post-match interview that he fouled coq on the buildup to the first goal. And what did skysports do? They made him MOTM for diving, kicking our players and hitting wilshere on the face

  136. DutchGooner10 says:

    Lee you know the following makes sense.

    If those post-match thoughts were introduced to him by a journo it didn’t come from his own brain cells. At best you could call it contemplating, not planning for the future.

  137. frednerk says:

    Chelsea were there for the taking

    Funny really southhampton come back from 2 down and get a draw
    Atkins gets the sack.

    I wonder….just joking

    Thought we would get back level till’

    That lazy little russian turned up…Desperate or what

  138. BigSanty says:

    Sagna was a good player but he is done now.. slow, can’t cross , can’t defend.. its about time we make him our reserve right back.. Diaby, for a guy that big he was being bullied off the ball by Lampard and Ramires, he can’t pass and does little to inspire Arsenal.. Arteta provided more steel than Diaby.. Coquelin is young and at least makes movement to open up spaces and he is young and will improve, seemed to be the only arsenal player who didn’t seem afraid to get his shirt dirty.. Giroud should have done better, given the opportunities and the magnitude of the game.. In a game against Chelsea away, you have to take your chances.. has good flicks, heads the ball down well but overall he is not an arsenal player.. horrible first touches.. Walcott, CAzorla and WIlshere did well and Podolski was greatly missed on the left and Oxlade as an adequate sub.. Ramsey…..mehn.­.. the usual…. Wenger has managed this team for over 15 years… what are his excuses…? its getting harder for Wenger faithfuls (Me & U) to keep protecting him after such results… but now that Guardiola has gone to Bayern.. I dont know who else can steer this team back.. I guess we’re stuck with him,,, all we can wish for is that he changes his mentality & Team approach towards matches,. Cus we the fans are terribly left on high BP on every match we now play which is not good to our health.

  139. gunnerdna says:

    People AW time is up from 2009 and we still persist with him because afc is scared of change, it’s becoming boring to mention what the teams lack because every person who watch this team knows their deficiencies except AW, when AA23 came on today that took all the hurt of the loss and i realize that with AW at the helm we are fucked, because he is zoned in a different world.

  140. Steve says:

    Just to point out that it was Niall Quinn who made Ramires MOM and also missed the ‘dive’ for the penalty. Quinn is another ex-player who didn’t make the grade and now always seems to celebrate an Arsenal defeat.

  141. gunnerdna says:

    BigSanty our full back look useless because they get no help from the wingers, the system AW uses bac and gibbo should get help from walcott and caz, but if they got to play 2vs1 every time we lost possession they gonna be tired and that what is killing sagna no help from walcott. What about a big DM who is going to cover when our winger are missing? It’s gonna get worst because he is afraid to buy because he dosent want to put MA08 on the bench. We will finish 6th or 7th.

  142. frednerk says:

    If wenger can’t find any players good enough,
    and as he says with have lost our fight to win games.

    How about asking Lennox Lewis to help out centre/mid

  143. DutchGooner10 says:

    Rico sounds lovely. Drive safe madam. Have a splendid holibobs.

    Dorset Winter Break

    Winter is the perfect time of year for a short break to Dorset. With some fantastic winter deals and special offers available, its the perfect excuse to book a break, relax and get away from it all!

    This is a special time of year when it feels you almost have Dorset to yourself and there’s a magical atmosphere with the countryside tinged with sparkling frost and the coastline looking beautiful bathed in mid-winter sunshine.

    Wrap up warm and get outdoors – enjoy a long walk to blow away the cobwebs followed by a warming pub lunch in front of a roaring open log fire!

  144. Lewis says:

    We need a whole new spine to the team.
    New GK to compete with Chesney.
    A commanding centre back, all of ours have been woeful this season.
    A big strong dominant DM/CM.
    And a top striker.

    I know I’m dreaming if I think we’ll get what we need.

  145. stevepalmer1 says:

    Dutch, Pissing down with snow freezing ffing cold slip arse over head everytime you put your foot down or am i just upset. 🙂

  146. Micko says:

    Dutch, it’s the neighbour next door I feel sorry for, chasing those ruddy chickens around the garden come dusk, it will be like Rocky 1 all over again.
    Emma 7.15, once upon a time we used to do the same to other teams with Vieira and Petit, no-one would take the pish out of us, we’re just a soft touch now.

  147. Micko says:

    Was in for a frontal lobotomy dutch, they only let me out weekends now, the great thing is, win or lose, I couldn’t give a shit.
    This is what life under the French cheese eating surrender monkey has done to me.

  148. DutchGooner10 says:

    That’s a bit drastic Micko. You could have gone for a prescription of the antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine. It melts away your cortex so you can shit where you stand. Similar to a cow.

  149. stevepalmer1 says:

    Dutch, your all heart mate. 🙂 Micko Mrs made me walk down to weatherspoons last night took me forever on the ice, even longer on the way back.

  150. DutchGooner10 says:

    Cheers SP. Looking forward to your ecliptic rant tomorrow. No bars hold I suspect and reasonably justified. Bottoms up.

  151. rico says:

    😛 Micko, just means I don’t have to get up too early…..

    Enjoy Sp..

    I’m off folks, Night Dg, Micko, Sp and anyone else who is reading HH 🙂

    Take care all….

  152. potter says:

    Your lucky SP , I could handle a pint but we only have one pub in our village and the landlord is a Chelsea supporter.

  153. goonster says:

    evening fellas didnt see the game so i cant comment but from the sound of things i think we played better during the second half.

  154. potter says:

    We were as totally abject in the first , second to everything , Diaby and Le Coq spent their time standing off and they were picking up every second ball. We were overrun and gave away two stupid goals the first when Ramires went over the ball on Coq and Diaby/Sagna stood waiting for a free kick I suppose. mata got behind Sagna and scored from about 15 metres. The second Ramires bought a penalty and Sczcesney got booked.
    Second half totally different we dominated Theo stayed onside for once and scored but we couldn’t get another. Points dropped.

  155. potter says:

    Were we that bad , first half yes. second we improved but you can’t give teams like Chelsea a two goal start.

  156. Scott from Oz says:

    Potter, we helped give them that 2 goal start, as did the ref.
    We make enough mistakes, but they often get compounded by bad decisions.
    Still, we put ourselves into these positions…..

  157. LJB says:

    Dutch,only been a gooner 38 yrs,used to have a ST but gave it up few yrs ago,partly due to money,partly due to frustration.Don’t have any time for Untold loonies,but gary neville,whose opinion i respect,said it was a dive.I wasn’t excusing piss poor performance,just confused what is a dive,what is a foul.Oh and Hansen and Nevin said it was a dive as well!!!

  158. Scott from Oz says:

    LJB, there is no way it was a dive, but no way it was a penalty either.
    The guy slipped before contact was made, so was going down no matter what.
    He did not dive though…it was an unintentional slip.
    It was clearly not a penalty though,and the ref should not have missed it.
    The question will be asked would he have missed it if it was our player attacking?
    Say what you like about the Untold guys, but there is too much evidence to suggest they are not on to something relevant.
    Again, we should not put ourselves on these positions, but referees should not consistently stuff up on decisions against us.
    It happens way too often to be a coincidence, of that there is no doubt.

  159. Scott from Oz says:

    And how is George Graham doing that exactly Wath?
    Disappointing performance mate, especially the first 45.
    I think our payers brains were snowed in!

  160. W.A.T.H says:

    To be honest Scott i think the first half was the biggest load of shit i’ve seen from us in a long long time…! We were utterly disgraceful.

    No fight no commitment no nothing… abysmal…!

    Yep first goal was a load of shit when should of been a free kick on Coq but I cant see how it wasn’t a penalty at all…! I’ve watched it 500 times it’s a foul Chez takes his leg simple and tell tale sign not one Arsenal player complains…! Chez also looked mighty relieved when no red card.
    We were chasing shadows, made them look like worldbeaters so 2nd half we didn’t exactly need to do much to be better. 45mins of football when your already 2 down isn’t acceptable. Hardly a shock though as it’s not the first time and won’t be the last.

    Will new players change the mentality..? doubt it… we have a board and a manager happy to aim at 4th and players who can’t be arsed hence we 6th and simply put not good enough.

  161. W.A.T.H says:

    Grey Goose reaches the areas other vodkas cannot reach Scott… after that shit today it numbs my brain and calms me a little although not very much when i witness such a display of surrender.

  162. Scott from Oz says:

    Wath, i reckon he slipped before any contact was made, so no penalty for me.
    The first half was the worst performance i have seen for years…we just didn’t show up.
    We lack class, and it shows up against sides with quality.
    As bad as we were in the first half we should have had 2 on the board.
    I like Giroud, and i like Theo, but we do need better……a world class striker sees us up in 2nd or 3rd spot for sure…..maybe higher.
    That and a DM.

  163. W.A.T.H says:

    Def no slip Scott thats exactly what I looked for on the replays and his leg goes on contact from CHez… 100% a penalty… don’t make up for the first decision though but even then those excuses don’t make up for how pathetic we were.

    If your honest Scott if you think we should of had 2 in the first half they should?could of had 6/7 then thats how awful we were..! Giroud is in his first seaosn yet gets slaughtered cos he ain’t RVP, no one is… yet also RVP was pretty average for 5 seasons as well… reality check.

    I don’t think we lack class at all,,, we lack fight and the right attitude, our attitude and mentality stinks… it vanishes..! why is that…? who is to blame…? how can pro’s not turn up for so many big games when it matters and then decide to give us effort for only 45mins…?

  164. W.A.T.H says:

    we lack a few big strong players, we have a weak spine in the team and we lack organisation.. defence was a shambles… everytime they came forward in the 1st half looked like they would score.

  165. Scott from Oz says:

    Class in finishing i meant Wath.
    Still no penalty though 🙂
    I said at half time plenty of our guys showed nothing……i can handle bad performances, as long as it is not due to a lack of effort, and i reckon a few didn’t try a yard til half time.
    Though the second half performance was terrific, it doesn’t go 5% towards satisfying us.
    We need that effort from kick off.

  166. W.A.T.H says:

    In all honesty turning up part time makes it worse Scott, shows that when they want they can compete better than they have been so whats all that about…!
    IF it wasn’t a pen why no one complain… Not one…. compare to Koz last week where they all go mad…! Chez was relieved no red…! Def pen but who gives a shit whats done is done and we lost cos we failed to turn up yet again.
    I’ve seen Arsenal teams 20 times worse than this lot but they never failed to show some fight and commitment how ever crap they were.

  167. potter says:

    Our midfield stood off them in the first half and gave them room to play . Strangely Neville pointed out how Ramires made the penalty. He dropped his shoulder and pushed the ball to his right with the outside of his right foot , but instead of following the ball he put his right foot intro the advancing keeper and duly dropped over him , very clever but It was a dive.

  168. W.A.T.H says:

    Well I disagree Potter, Chez slides into Ramirez from the way I see it, nice for GNev 2 to sort of stick up for us but not for me, was a pen, had lost control of the ball but Chez still took him down yet we overlooking the fact that we were still diabolical cos we also got a shit decision for the goal and some disputing the pen… if they took their chances we were dead and buried by half time.

    All we did in the 2nd half was put in the effort that we should of put in from word go and that then mean’t we got to play a bit of football and imposed ourselves a bit. We are such a soft touch and it shows up in most games.

  169. potter says:

    Totally agree about about the effort as my previous posts say. I was just pointing out how Neville slowed down the incident and showed how Ramires did it. As I said very clever and a manufactured collision. However I would agree in real time I thought it was a penalty.

  170. W.A.T.H says:

    We were watching some feed from Prem Lge something and we had Curbishly, Townsend and Paul Ince and they thought it was a slip to start thet when they slowed it down they all said Chez took his leg…! Splitting hairs when we were so crap though, just gives wenger an excuse to say we showed fight in the 2nd half which begs the question why no fight in the first then Arsene..?

  171. W.A.T.H says:

    Can’t see how Cross can say that either Potter, men on the line and in reality Ramirez had lost control of the ball…! I’m off nite all… Have a good day Scott..!

  172. allezkev says:

    I didn’t think it was a penalty, and the first goal was a foul.

    But our defending in the first half was shit.

    Jenkinson makes a balls up vs Swansea and gets dropped.
    How many preventable goals have been down to Sagna mistakes so far this season?
    Will he get dropped???

  173. allezkev says:

    Hi Potter.
    Our defence looked tight and disciplined until Norwich (a)…
    Jenks, Gibbs, BFG and Verm… With Mannone in goal…!!!
    Where has that organisation disappeared too?

  174. Scott from Oz says:

    Though i say it was no penalty, in no way am i suggesting it should cover up the fact we were shit for 45 minutes.
    As with Kozzers red last week, we keep playing with fire, and keep getting burned…we have nobody else to blame for these situations.
    Night all.

  175. allezkev says:

    Gotta say, that Walcott took his goal excellently.

    A touch with his left foot, adjusted his body shape and whipped if last Cech with his right foot. Very impressed.
    Giroud should have scored twice.
    Maybe we’ll see the best of him next season?
    Maybe???

  176. Scott from Oz says:

    Kev, early on we had an inform DM…well, big Diaby, bossing the midfield.
    I may well be wrong, but i have always thought with a true beast in the middle, our back 4 will never ben under such intense pressure, and thus will a look better unit.
    How are ya mate?
    I had a day off today…….too much work lately, and this is supposedly our dead time of year!!

  177. allezkev says:

    Agree Scott, even so, I liked our defence, but Wenger has messed it about in order to bring Sagna & Koscielny back into the side, and it hasn’t improved the defence at all…

  178. allezkev says:

    Our midfield was rank in the 1st half…

    Lacking in drive, determination etc…

    Do these overpaid professionals ‘need’ to be reminded of their job.
    God, It’s exasperating, what do they do in training???

  179. allezkev says:

    I thought you was going Scott…

    Cross purposes…

    Still convinced that Wenger will buy jack shit…
    Maybe a couple of cheap gambles, but forget a serious buy…
    It just ain’t gonna happen.

    Seems as if Arshavin was a passenger when he came on, again!
    What a waste of talent. He needs a reality check. You know, like a Bosman to anywhere…

  180. Scott from Oz says:

    Kev, sometimes a man just needs to dig deep and show some pride.
    Whether we blame Wenger or not for the guys slow starts, they are professionals, so are alo accountable for any lack of professional pride shown, imo.
    A least half seemed to be on strike in the first half.

  181. Scott from Oz says:

    I thought YOU were going lol.
    Arshavin…a crying shame.
    Talent like that is rare.
    I still reckon we miss Yossi from last season….at least he gave us energy.
    Rosicky will help.

  182. tsGH says:

    Morning all…

    Its going to be a long 10 days until the window shuts! With Le Coq out will AW play Frimps next to Diaby on wednesday, or will he play either Ramsey or Ox? I think Diaby may need a break too.

    I bet Le Grove are buzzing because it likely we would be finishing outside top 4 as they have wanted for 5 years… For the fans who think finishing 3rd/4th is a failure because we don’t win jack all, just maybe they will realise …..

    Kev, Yossi was good for us but he has been returned to Chelsea by WHU so I think we are scrapping the barrel if we think he could have helped us.

  183. tsGH says:

    Like PHW and IG have been saying for the last 3 or 4 years the fans take champions league qualification for granted so maybe they are going to make us appreciate it …..

    Imo, if we drop out of the CL spot I doubt we will be going on a spending spree based on the fact that when we finish 4th we dont buy until we have played the CL qualifier first to guarantee the £25M.

  184. tsGH says:

    When Rico posted a topic several months ago asking where fans would like to be, come the transfer window…. I always suspected that if we were not in the 4th spot we would not be spending because the board thought line is opposite to most.

    They would think it would be better to save the 25M or 30M on purchase and salary that we would lose out on CL participation than spend to ensure we finish up the league.

  185. Scott from Oz says:

    Yanga-Mbiwa is the other one.
    We will take them, but we desperately need a striker.
    I have not thought we needed one too desperately, but that opinion has changed dramatically.
    As crap as we played, we still should have scored at least 3.

  186. Bradster says:

    I agree ts. Depends if they expect that we can catch Tottenham or not. So far 3 behind Everton and 7 behind Totenham puts it all down to the game against West Ham.

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